Wall-mounted vacuum cleaner

ABSTRACT

A CENTRAL POWER AND COLLECTOR UNIT FOR A WALL-MOUNTED, BUILT-IN VACUUM CLEANER COMPRISING A CASE TO BE ENGAGED IN AN OPENING IN A WALL STRUCTURE AND DEFINING A POWER CHAMBER AND A COLLECTOR CHAMBER, SAID CASE HAVING A MOUNTING FLANGE ABOUT ITS PERIMETER TO ENGAGE AND TO BE FIXED TO THE FRONT SURFACE OF THE WALL STRUCTURE ABOUT SAID OPENING THEREIN, SAID CASE HAVING INLET AND OUTLET PORTS IN ITS SIDES TO CONNECT WITH INLET AND EXHAUST DUCTS WITHIN THE WALL STRUCTURE AND SPACED A DISTANCE NOT LESS THAN 3/4&#34; OR GREATER THAN 4 3/8&#34; REARWARD OF THE FLANGE, SAID UNIT HAVING AN AIR INLET TUBE EXTENDING FROM THE POWER CHAMBER INTO THE COLLECTOR CHAMBER AND AN OUTLET PORT COMMUNICATING BETWEEN THE COLLECTOR CHAMBER AND A POWER DRIVEN BLOWER IN THE POWER CHAMBER, A FILTER BAG IN THE COLLECTOR CHAMBER AND HAVING AN OPENING RECEIVING THE INLET TUBE, AN AIR CONDUCTING ORIENTING PAD IN THE COLLECTOR CHAMBER OVERLYING THE OUTLET PORT AND HAVING AN AIR CONDUCTING INNER SURFACE ENGAGING THE BAG TO HOLD SAID BAG CENTRALLY IN ITS RELATED CHAMBER IN SPACED RELATIONSHIP FROM THE SIDES OF THE CHAMBER AND HAVING AIR CONDUCTING SIDES COMMUNICATING WITH THE SPACE BETWEEN THE SIDES OF THE CHAMBER AND BAG.   D R A W I N G

1973 c. 1.. SIMONELLI WALL-MOUNTED VACUUM CLEANER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FiledOct. 19, 1970 gun? Inuenzqr far-Z l. 30970/79/4 3,714,765 WALL-MOUNTEDVACUUM CLEANER Carl L. Simonelli, Glendora, Calif., assignor to CentralVac international, inc, Los Angeles, Calif. Filed st. 19, 19743, Ser.No. 81,647 Int. Cl. 361d 46/00 U.S. Cl. 55-472 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THEDISCLUSURE A central power and collector unit for a wall-mounted,built-in vacuum cleaner comprising a case to be engaged in an opening ina wall structure and defining a power chamber and a collector chamber,said case having a mounting flange about its perimeter to engage and tobe fixed to the front surface of the wall structure about said openingtherein, said case having inlet and outlet ports in its sides to connectwith inlet and exhaust ducts within the Wall structure and spaced adistance not less than %1" or greater than 4 /8" rearward of the flange,said unit having an air inlet tube extending from the power chamber intothe collector chamber and an outlet port communicating between thecollector chamber and a power driven blower in the power chamber, afilter bag in the collector chamber and having an opening receiving theinlet tube, an air conducting orienting pad in the collector chamberoverlying the outlet port and having an air conducting inner surfaceengaging the bag to hold said bag centrally in its related chamber inspaced relationship from the sides of the chamber and having airconducting sides communicating with the space between the sides of thechamber and bag.

This invention has to do with a vacuum cleaning means and is moreparticularly concerned with certain improvements in that class or typeof vacuum means comprising a wall-mounted power collector unit adaptedto connect and communicate with a wall installed vacuum service ductsystem and to cooperatively connect with a flexible vacuum service hose.

The type or class of vacuum cleaning means here concerned with iscommonly referred to or termed a built-in vacuum system or a centralvacuum system. Such systems are built into wall structures in dwellingsand the like, about central, wall-mounted, box-like units, in whichmotor driven vacuum pumps or blowers are housed and in which collectormeans are provided to collect dirt, dust and debris gathered by thesystems.

The provision and use of such systems has, for many years, beenrestricted to large industrial and commercial institutions, such asfactories, hotels and the like. Such restricted use has been due to thehigh cost of components, high cost of installation, the unavailabilityof small, neat, compact and quiet or relatively silent operating blowersand the unavailability of easy, convenient and practical collectingmeans; that is, collecting means which are such that the ordinaryhousewife can service, handle and manipulate.

In recent years, small, quiet operating motor driven vacuum blower unitsof modest price and of sufficient capacity to serve central vacuumsystems for the average dwelling have become available and standardized;further, with the advent and development of paper vacuum cleanercollecting and/or filter bags, the establishment or provision of easyand convenient to use and service collecting means has been madefeasible.

As a result of the above, there has, in recent years, been rapidincrease in the number of central vacuum cleaning systems available tohome builders and the like.

UnitedStates Patent O "ice 3,7i4,?fi5 Patented Feb. 6, 1973 The cost ofsuch systems has lowered to within practical range and cost ofinstallation is minimal.

The principal shortcoming yet to be found in those systems presentlybeing produced resides in the size of the central unit, that is, theunit which houses the blower and the collecting means.

The standard wall structure in dwellings and the like is established of3 x 4 studs, finished to 2%" x 3%", and wood, veneer panels or lathe andplaster skins ranging from A3" to a standard maximum of thick. The studsare commonly arranged with their major dimensions at right angles to theskins and so that the cells defined by the wall are 3%" thick or deep,from skin to skin. The maximum thickness of such Walls, with /1" skins,is 5%".

Since the minor dimension of commercially available blower unitssuitable for use in such systems is about 6" and these units must besuitably supported and housed within the case or housing of the centralunit of such systems, the establishment of a central unit 5%" deep, orless, is not practical or feasible and all known commercially availablecentral units of the class here referred to are deeper or thicker than 5/8" and must project a substantial distance outward, from one or both ofthe skins of the Walls in which they are mounted.

Attempts have been made to slim or minimize the depth of such units, sothey do not project outwardly from related Walls an excessive distance.In doing so, bulbus, blister-like enlargements are established in theunit housings or covers which render them unsightly and obviousmechanical and utilitarian appliances.

In attempts to minimize the depth of such units, the prior art hascompromised by increasing the lateral and/ or vertical extent of theunits to accommodate necessary components and means, with the resultthat the units have become exceedingly wide and/or high, are of odd orunusual dimensional proportioning and are such that they are quiteobvious and apparent.

It is desired that such units be of a size and dimensions not noticeablylarger and distinct in size and dimension from an average wall pictureframe, built-in radio, radio speaker or other small appliances which arecommonly found in a dwelling, which are aesthically acceptable and whichare not, as a general rule, noticed.

Another shortcoming to be found in such units resides in the fact thatit is common and accepted practice, when employing paper filter bags invacuum collecting means, to arrange the bags in a vacuum chamber,provide an inlet fitting or fixture at one end of the chamber to connectwith the interior of the bag and to provide an air outlet fitting orfixture at the other or opposite end of the chamber, communicating withthe chamber and about the exterior of the bag and so that substantiallystraight and complete flow of air, longitudinally of the chamber and ofthe bag therein is eflFected, thus gaining full filtering effectafforded by the bag and maximum efficiency.

Such practice requires that the central unit not only be sufiicientlygreat in vertical or horizontal extent to accommodate the filter bag,fully extended in the vacuum chamber provided for said bag, but also besufiiciently great in dimension to accommodate the inlet and outletfixtures and/0r fitting at the opposite ends of the chamber and thoseother ducts and the like related to the noted fixtures and fittings.

The above practice results in efficient and efiective but excessivelarge central units.

Attempts have been made to direct the flow of air into and out of thevacuum chambers and filter bags in such units in other than the direct,axial manner referred to above and to thereby effect a reduction in sizeand dimension of the units, but such attempts have resulted in poor,inefiective and/or inetficiently operating systems where a small andlimited extent of the bag is utilized to filter and pass the air beingmoved.

To date, primary attention has been directed to the establishment andprovision of central units for built-in or central vacuum cleaningsystems which are designed specifically for installation in a standarddeep wall structure such as referred to above and with the view ofconnecting the unit with a related system of 2" plastic or metal inletservice and outlet exhaust ducts arranged centrally in and extendingthrough the 3%" cells defined by the wall structures in the dwelling inwhich the system is to be installed. While such units have provensuitable in standard 5% walls, they are not suitable for mounting andinstallation in any other structural wall and necessitate, oftenextensive, on the building site, modification of the wall structure toeffect their installation when they are installed in other than aconventional 5 /8 wall structure.

The size, weight and dimensions of such central units make mounting themon and in a panel or wall skin, less than A" thick or deep, undesirableand frequently impractical or impossible.

In recent years, with the ever and rapidly increasing establishment ofmobile home, trailers and pre-fabricated buildings established ofmodular pannels and the like, the establishment of wall structuresranging from ,43" to 2 /2 have become increasingly more common.

Those commercially available central units provided by the prior art,designed for installation in standard 5 /8" Walls are not suitable forinstallation in thinnner wall structures such as referred to above andwhich are becoming increasingly more common.

With few exceptions, the cases or box-like housings of those centralunits provided by the prior art are oriented in the openings provided intheir related wall structures to receive them by the edges of saidopenings and by the inner surface of the skins of the walls, remote fromthe skins of the walls which the openings enter and by studs and likestructure withtin the Walls. The cases are, as a general rule, fixed intheir related walls by mounting brackets, straps and like mechanicaldevices secured to the cases and parts or portions of the wallstructures, by means of screw fasteners and/or nails, or by means ofscrew fasteners or nails engaged directly with and between parts orportions of the wall structure and sides, walls or panels of the casesper se.

An object of my invention is to provide a wall-mounted central unit fora built-in vacuum cleaning system of the character referred toincorporating a novel and improved relationship of components, parts andportions whereby the overall dimensions of the unit is substantiallyreduced.

Yet another object and feature of this invention is to provide a unit ofthe character referred to comprising a case which is 12" x 12" inlateral and vertical extent and which is specifically designed forengagement and mounting in a 12" x 12" opening in any wall or panelstructure, regardless of the depth or thickness of the panel or Wallstructure.

It is an object and feature of this invention to provide a unit of thecharacter referred to wherein the case is provided with an outwardlyprojecting mounting flange about its perimeter to engage the frontsurface of the panel or skin of the wall about the opening providedtherein and which is fastened to said skin whereby the unit is mountedon or carried by said panel or skin.

It is an object of the invention to arrange the flange in predeterminedspaced relationship from the front edge of the case and from openingsand fittings in the sides of the case so it serves to orient the frontedge of the case for desired engagement and arrangement of a front coverstructure with the case and the panel or wall and so it serves to orientthe said openings and fittings in the sides of the case in predeterminedrelationship with the rear surface of the carrying or supporting panelor wall skin and with ducting means adjacent thereto.

Still another object and feature of my invention is to provide a unit ofthe character referred to having novel collecting means wherein theeffective and efiicient air flow into and out of the filter bag andvacuum chamber is at one, common side of the chamber and the bag, remotefrom the ends thereof.

The foregoing and other objects and features of my invention will beapparent and understood from the foilowing detailed description of onepreferred form and carrying out of the invention, throughout whichdescription reference is made to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of my new central unit;

FIG. 2 is a view taken as indicated by line 22 on FIG. 1 showing my unitmounted in a wall panel;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing my unit engaged in a standardframe and stud wall;

FIG. 4 is a view taken as indicated by line 4-4 on FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a view taken as indicated by line 5--5 on FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a view taken as indicated by line 6-6 on FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a view taken as indicated by line 7-7 on FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is a view taken as indicated by line 8-8 on FIG. 4;

FIG. 9 is a view taken substantially as indicated by line 99 on FIG. 1;and

FIG. 10 is a view taken substantially as indicated by line 101tl on FIG.1.

The central unit U provided by the present invention and illustrated inthe accompanying drawings includes a forwardly opening box-like case Chaving left and right side walls 10 and 11, top and bottom walls 12 and13, a rear wall 14 and an open front. The case is 12" in vertical andlateral extent and is approximately 6% in depth.

The case C is provided with an outwardly projecting 1" mounting flange Fabout its perimeter, defined by the top,-bott0m and side walls.

The flange F can be and in the instant case is shown formed integrallywith its related walls of the case by rearwardly and thence outwardlybent and formed extensions on the forward edges of said walls and sothat the forward edges of said walls are established of two thicknessesof material and define a radiused, forwardly disposed, rim-like edge 15about the open front of the case.

The flange F is spaced rearward of the front edge 15 of the case aboutand is on a vertical plane parallel therewith. The flange F is providedwith longitudinally spaced fastener receiving openings 16 along each ofits sides and in the case illustrated the corners defined by the severalside portions of the flange are suitably mitred.

It will be noted that the flange is spaced approximately 5%" from therear wall 14 of the case.

The case is next characterized by a fiat partition P spaced between theside walls, extending vertically between the top and bottom walls andforwardly from the rear wall to the plane of the open front of the case.The partition P is sealed and in air-tight relationship with the top,bottom and rear walls and has a straight, smooth rim edge 15cooperatively related to the edge 15 of the case to establish anintegral continuation or part thereof. The partition =P divides theinterior of the case to define a vacuum chamber V and a power chamber Deach of which is coextensive with the vertical extent and depth of thecase and one half the lateral extent of the case. The vacuum chamberoccurs at the left side and the power chamber at the right side of thecase and each is two times greater in vertical extent than it is inlateral extent.

The case is next provided with a horizontal partition 17 in the powerchamber substantially midway between the top and bottom walls and extendg laterally between the wall 11 and partition P and forwardly from therear wall 14 to the forward portion of the chamber D. The partition 17divides the power chamber into a lower motor and blower compartment 13and an upper compartment 19 to accommodate an electrical junction box orthe like, vacuum service fittings and duct connecting means as willhereinafter be described.

The right hand wall 11 of the case is provided with a laterallyoutwardly opening upper opening or port 20 communicating with the upperportion of the upper compartment 19 of the chamber D, a laterallyoutwardly opening lower exhaust opening or port 21 communicating withthe lower compartment 18 of the chamber D and a central opening 22between the openings 20 and 21 and communicating with the lower portionof the upper compartment of the chamber D. The central axes of theseveral openings 20, 21 and 22 are spaced approximately 2%" rearwardfrom the rear surface of the flange F and so that when the case ismounted in a through opening in a standard framed and plastered wallstructure, with standard 4" skins or panels and the flange F is seatedon the exterior surfaces of one of said skins, about the openingtherein, the several noted openings occur wholly within the 3 /8" cellsdefined by the wall, as clearly illustrated in FIG. 3 of the drawings.

The lower portion of the right hand wall 11 of the case is provided witha coupling bracket J to cooperatively receive a flange fitting for theexhaust ducting. The bracket J has a flat, substantially square plate 23with vertical side and horizontal top and bottom edges. The plate 23 isarranged outward of and overlies the lower exhaust opening 21 and isprovided with apertures 24 communicating with the opening 21. The plate23 is next provided with spaced laterally outwardly projecting, verticalflanges 26 on its two vertical side edges, inwardly projecting andopposing retaining lips 27 on the outer edges of said flanges, and alaterally outwardly projecting horizontal stop flange 28 on its loWeredge.

The plate 23 is approximately 2%"): 2%" and is arranged so that thevertical flange 26 at the forwardly disposed edge of the plate is spacedrearwardly from the flange F approximately 1" and is sufficiently freeto accommodate an edge portion of a A" panel or standard wall skin, withwhich the adjacent portion of the flange F is engaged and seated with,and its rear vertical flange is spaced approximately 3%" from the flangeF and is spaced forwardly of the inside surface of the rear skin of sucha wall about /3", as clearly illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7 of thedrawings.

The plate 23, with its flanges 26, 28 and lips 27 established aprotective screen, to overlie the opening 21 and coupling bracketadapted to slidably receive and retain standard square 2%" x 2%" squareor round flanges of flanged coupling fittings for 2" plastic or metaltubing.

In FIG. 6 of the drawings, I have shown a typical flange fitting 30 forplastic tubing related to the bracket 3'. The fitting 30 has a square orround flange 31 with a flat laterally inwardly disposed bearing surface32 and outer surface 33 and a short, central, 2" in diameter tubularneck 34 projecting laterally outwardly from the outer surface 32. Theflange is slidably engaged between flanges 26 of the bracket. The lips27 slidably engage the outer surface 33 of the flange 31 and urge andhold the sealing surface 32 thereof in tight sealing engagement with theopposing surface of the plate portion of the bracket. The stop flange 28of the bracket limits downward movement of the flange 31 and cooperateswith the flanges 26 to orient the tubular neck 34 concentrically withthe opening 21 in the case and with which clip is related.

The neck 34 of the fitting is shown connected with a related section 35of an exhaust ducting means by means of a nipple 36, in accordance withcommon practice.

It is to be noted that if an exhaust ducting means is not required oremployed, the bracket J effectively screens the 6 opening 21 andprevents access into the case and to the motor driven blower therein andwhich is related to the opening 21.

The partition P is provided with an upper opening or port 37 in axialalignment with the opening or port 20 and a lower opening or port 38which is in substantial alignment with the exhaust opening or port 21.

Arranged in the compartment 18 in the chamber 'D of the case is astandard motor driven vacuum fan or blower unit B with cylindrical sidewalls 40 and flat axially disposed ends 41 and 42. The unit B isslightly less than 6" long, and is about 6" in diameter. It has acentral inlet opening 43 at its end 41 and an axially oflset outletopening 44 at its other end 42. The unit B is provided with annularresilient gaskets at its opposite ends and is slidably engaged in thecompartment 18 with the gaskets 45 at its ends in pressure sealingengagement with the wall 11 and partition P of the case and with itsoutlet 44 aligned with the exhaust port 21 and with its inlet 43 alignedwith the port 38 in said partition.

In the lower portion of the upper compartment 19 of the chamber D, andcarried by the horizontal partition 17 is a junction box 50 which boxcarries a terminal block 51 with which an electric service cord 52 isconnected. The cord 52 extends through the opening 22 in the case wall11 and is connected with a suitable power source, in accordance withcommon and accepted practice.

The motor of the unit B is connected with the terminal block 5 1 by apower cable 53, as shown in FIG. 4.

In the upper portion of the compartment 19, of the chamber 1), above thebox 50, I provide an air conducting T-fitting with a laterallyextending, horizontal, tubular head portion with a laterally outwardlyopening inlet end 61, a laterally inwardly opening outlet end 62 and acentral forwardly projecting, forwardly opening leg portion 63. The legportion is, in the preferred carrying out of the invention, providedwith a forwardly disposed mounting flange 64.

The T-fitting 60 is arranged in the compartment 19 with its head portionin axial alignment with the openings or ports 20 and 37 in the wall 11and partition P of the case. The inlet end portion 61 of said headportion projects through the opening 20 and connects with the outlet enda duct 65 of a vacuum service duct system in or adjacent the wall orpanel in which the unit U is mounted and with which said unit isrelated.

Since the vacuum service duct system with which the unit U is relatedand of which the duct 65 is a part can vary Widely in form and designand does not form a part of or effect the present invention, the wholeof such a system has not been illustrated and further detaileddescription thereof will be avoided.

The outlet end 62 of the head portion of the T-fitting 60 is connectedwith a short straight filter bag mounting duct '66 which projectsthrough the opening 37 and a short distance into the vacuum chamber V toconnect with a filter bag F arranged therein. The opening 37 in thepartition 37 is provided with an annular rubber grommet 67 whichyieldingly engages about and seals with the bag mounting duct 66.

The free end of the duct 66, in the chamber V is provided with anannular radially outwardly projecting bag retaining head 68, as clearlyillustrated in 'FIG. 5 of the drawings.

The mounting flange 64 of the T-fitting 60 is secured to a suitablemounting bracket 69 in the compartment 19 of the case.

The leg portion 63 of the fitting 60 communicates with and carries ashort forwardly projecting, forwardly opening, vacuum service tube 70,the forward end of which projects from the case. The tube 70 has a flatforward open end 72 which is adapted to releasably connect with aflexible vacuum service hose (not shown) by means of a tapered couplingtube or cuff on said hose, slidably and wedgingly engaged in the tube 70and is normally closed by a valving closure carried by a cover platerelated to the case and which will hereinafter be described.

The fitting 60 is preferably a standard plastic duct fitting for 2plastic ducting and the ducts 65 and 66 and the service tube 70 areestablished of 2" plastic ducting.

In practice, the construction can he established of larger or smallerstandard ducting and related fittings, without departing from the spiritof this invention.

Further, the air conducting ducts and fittings of the construction canbe established of metal and/or can be especially formed or fabricated inany desired manner without departing from the spirit of this invention.

It is important to note that with the structure thus far described theflow of air from duct 65 through the fitting 60 and duct 66 is straightthrough flow, free of turns and angles and that the structure in thecase conducting the intiowing air is free of elbow joints and the likewhich are costly, space consuming and result in the turning of air withresulting loss of efficiency.

It is also to be noted that the flow of air through the blower unit Bfrom the chamber V and out of the port 21 and/or into the duct system isstraight through and that no ducts, tubes, fittings or other airconducting means is required or provided in and through the compartment18 of the chamber D.

The vacuum chamber V accommodates and is provided with a bag orientingfilter pad which overlies the port 38 in the partition P and projectslaterally therefrom and into the chamber V. The pad 0 is a flat,rectangular or round unit and can, if desired and as illustrated,include an outer rigid cage 80 established of rigid screening orperforated sheet stock and a filler 81 of fiberous or interconnectedcellular filtering material.

The cage 80 has a fiat vertical outer wall 82 spaced a predetermineddistance from the partition P and has flat top bottom and side walls 83about its perimeter. The top, bottom and side walls 83 have inner edgeswhich rest and seat on the partition in spaced relationship from andabout the opening 38. The top, bottom and side walls can, as shown, beabout /1 deep. The filter core or filler 81 is disposed within and iscontained by the cage and overlies the opening 38.

The pad 0 is releasably retained in the chamber in overlyingrelationship with the opening or port 38 by a suitable retaining means.In the case illustrated, the retaining means comprises bail-like wire84- fixed to the partition P and extending diagonally across the pad toengage the outer wall 82 thereof and yieldingly urge and hold the pad intight engagement on the partition.

It will be noted that the retaining means 84 is such that it permitseasy and convenient removal of the pad 0, for the purpose of servicingand cleaning said pad.

In practice, the pad can be of any desired construction; for example, itcan simply consist of filter paper or fabric, suitably carried and/orsupported by screening. The filter bag F within the chamber V is asimple bag established of filter paper and defines flat top and bottomwalls 85 and 86, front and rear walls 87 and 88 and left and right handside walls 89 and 90. The bag F is of predetermined size and is smallerin lateral and vertical extent and in depth than the chamber V and sothat when it is fully extended or expanded within the chamber and iscentralized within said chamber, the several walls thereof occur inpredetermined spaced relationship from the adjacent opposing walls ofthe chamber.

In the case illustrated, the dimensions of the bag are such that thespaces between the bag and the chamber walls are substantially the sameas the depth of the pad 0, or about /3".

The upper end portion of the right hand wall 96 of the bag F is providedwith an inlet opening 91 which is reinforced by an apertured paperretaining plate 92 which plate is adapted to be slidably and sealinglyengaged onto the bag mounting tube 66 and yieldingly urged over theretaining head 68 on said tube, as clearly illustrated in FIG. 5 of thedrawings.

When the open front of the chamber V is closed and sealed, as willhereinafter be described and when the construction is in operation, theminus pressure in the chamber V about the bag F and created by theblower unit B causes the bag to be inflated by the air, under greaterpressure, entering the upper end of the bag through the opening 91 andthe duct 66 engaged through said opening.

As the bag is inflated in the manner set forth above, the lower portionof its right hand wall 90 is drawn into engagement with and is held inengagement on the flat outer, perforated wall 82 of the cage 86 of thepad 0. When the bag is thus engaged with the cage, it is effectivelyheld in centrally oriented position in the chamber with its severalwalls spaced from the opposing adjacent walls of the chamber and so thatthe entire remaining exterior surface of the bag is free to breathe orpass air outwardly from within the bag to the space in the chamber aboutsaid bag.

The perforated side walls 83 of the cage of the pad 0 are unobstructedby the bag, are exposed to the space in the chamber V about the bag andthe filtered air within said space is drawn freely through the pad 0,through the blower unit B and is thereafter exhausted from theconstruction.

The dust and dirt drawn into the upper end portion of the bag F drops tothe lower end of the bag and is, to an extent, drawn and compactedtherein by the greater pressure differential created in the lowerportion of the bag by the direct, engaging relationship of the lowerportion of the wall thereof with the pad 0. That is, due to the directcontact of the lower portion of the wall 98 of the bag with the pad 0, asulficient downward flow of air is induced within the bag to urge dustand dirt and debris to the lower portion or bottom thereof.

It is to be noted that the foregoing combination and relationship of thebag F in the chamber V and with the duct 66 and pad 0 is a novel,extremely effective and etlicient combination and relationship of parts.

The unit U that I provide next includes a cover plate L releasablysecured to the case to overlie the chamber D and a closure or door Epivotably carried by the plate L and adapted to normally overlie andseal the open forward side of the chamber V.

The plate L is a simple fiat metal plate arranged in front of andoverlying the chamber D. The plate has top, bottom and outer edgeportions which project a limited distance outward from their relatedtop, bottom and side of the case and has a vertical inner edge 91 whichis spaced sheet metal brackets 97, fixed to its rear surface andpartition P of the case. The plate is further, preferably, provided witha rearwardly projecting flange 92 about its perimeter. The top andbottom walls 12 and 13 of the case are notched as at 93 to accommodatethe portion of the flange 92 on the inner edge of the plate whereby theplate can be moved rearward ly relative to the case a sufiicientdistance so that the flanged plate obscures the case and the flange Fthereof.

The rear surface of the plate is provided with a pair of verticallyspaced brackets 94 with laterally outwardly projecting retaining pins95. The pins 95 project laterally outwardly into and through a pair ofvertically spaced retaining openings 96 established in the right handside wall 11 of the case, forward of the flange F. The brackets and pinsserve to hold the right hand side of the plate L in position over thecase.

The plate L is next provided with a pair of vertically spaced sheetmetal brackets 97, fixed to its rear surface and having laterallyinwardly projecting aperture mounting tabs 98 which occur rearwardly ofthe plate flange 92 and project laterally inwardly from the inner edge91 of the plate. The tabs 98 occur outward of the top and bottom wallsof the case and are releasably secured to the flange F of the case byscrew fasteners 99 engaged through the tabs and into internally threadedmounting posts 100 fixed to the flange.

It will be apparent that upon releasing and removing the fasteners 99,the plate L can be moved forwardly and turned so that the pins 94 aredisengaged from within the openings 96, affording easy and convenientremoval of the plate and access to the chamber D.

In addition to the foregoing, the plate is provided with a serviceopening 101 through which the forward end of the vacuum service tube 70freely projects. A small closure plate 102 is pivotably secured to thefront of the plate L, by hinge means M to normally overlie the opening101 and the forward end of the tube 70. The closure 102 carries a flat,flexible rubber sealing disc 103, at its normally rearwardly disposedside or surface, which disc engages and overlies the forward open end 71of the tube 70 to seal that end of said tube.

The closure plate 102, hinge means M and disc '3 establish a manuallyoperable clapper valve means for sealing and obscuring the tube 70 andwhich is such that it affords easy and convenient access to said tubefor engagement of a vacuum service hose therewith.

The closure E is a flat sheet metal plate arranged adjacent the front ofthe case to overlie the vacuum chamber V and has top, bottom and sideedge portions which project outwardly from the adjacent portions of thetop and bottom walls 12 and 13 and from the left hand wall 10 of thecase and an inner edge portion 110 which extends beyond and to the rightof the partition P to terminate adjacent the inner edge 91 of the plateL. The closure E, like the plate L is provided with a rearwardlyprojecting flange 111 about its perimeter which flange is accommodatedby the notches 93 in the top and bottom walls of the case.

The right hand or inner edge portion of the door E is pivotally mountedon the left hand or inner adjacent edge portion of the plate L by a pairof vertically spaced hinges H. The hinges H are fixed to the innersurface of the plate L and have elongate arms extending laterally of theconstruction to bridge the flanges on the inner adjacent edges 91 and110 of the plate and door and which are fixed to the inner edge portionof the door or the flange thereof, as clearly illustrated in thedrawings.

Since the particular hinge means provided to mount the door E to theplate L can vary widely, without departing from the spirit of thisinvention, further detailed description of the hinge means illustratedcan and will be dispensed with.

The left hand side of the door E is releasably latched to the case bymeans of a spring actuated latch means S with parts fixed to the innersurface of the door and on the flange F adjacent the wall 10 of thecase.

Since the latch means S can vary widely in form and construction,without departing from the spirit of this invention, I will dispensewith further unnecessary description of the latch means I have electedto illustrate in the drawings.

Finally, the door E is provided with and carries sealing means K to sealwith the rims 15 and 15 about the forward open side of the chamber Vwhich means in cludes a continuous sealing strip of resilient material,such as non-interconnected cellular foam plastic, fixed to the rearsurface of the door and adapted to establish continuous uninterruptedpressure sealing engagement with the rims 15 and 15 about the chamberwhen the door is urged to its normal closed position and is releasablyheld in said position by the latch means S and the minus pressure in thechamber V, when the construction is in operation.

With the structure described, it will be apparent that servicing of theconstruction as when it is desired to replace the bag F, it is a simpleand convenient operation to open the door E to gain access to thechamber V and 10 to thereafter remove a used and filled bag and toreplace it with a new bag.

In practice, the unit is provided with suitable switch means to turn theconstruction on and off. In the preferred carrying out of the invention,the control switch is a pressure sensitive button switch carried by theplate L to occur behind and normally engaged and held in an openposition by the closure plate 102. The switch 120 is connected with theterminal block 51 by suitable conductors (not shown).

Since the number of types of switching and/or control means availableand adaptable for use in connection with my construction is considerableand since such means do not effect the novelty and spirit of myinvention, I have elected not to disclose and will not burden thedisclosure with further and unnecessary considerations thereby.

It is to be noted that with the structure that I provide the unit U ismounted and supported entirely by the flange F, on the front surface ofthe Wall panel or front skin of the wall structure with which the unitis related, about the unit receiving opening therein and does notrequire or rely upon the provision and use of mounting brackets, strapsor the like and does not require other and secondary structure relatedto and/or a part .of the panel or Wall structure.

It is also to be noted that the flange F, in addition to mounting thecase, as above set forth, also orients and arranges the case so that theinlet and exhaust ports and the fittings and ducts related thereto arearranged and disposed in predetermined spaced relationship rearward ofthe flange and so that they occur in predetermined spaced relationshiprearward of the panel or wall skin with which the flange F is engaged.

With the structure provided, the inlet and exhaust openings and theelectric service opening in the right side of the case occur within A"and 4 /8" from the rear surface of the flange F. With such arelationship of parts, it will be apparent that the unit can beconveniently mounted in and with a panel up to in thickness and that itcan be conveniently mounted in an opening in a standard 2 x 4 framed andplastered wall structure having standard thick skins and so that thenoted ports in its left side are centrally arranged and open into thecell defined by the wall structure and can be conveniently connectedwith inlet and exhaust ducting arranged in and through the cells of thewall.

It is to be noted that the rearward edge of the bracket J is spacedapproximately /8" from the opposing inside surface of the rear skin of astandard wall structure when the front skin thereof is thick;accordingly, the thickness of the front skin can be reduced inthickness, to /s" in thickness (such as a veneer panel) and the ports inthe left side of the case and the bracket J and fittings related theretowould still occur wholly within the cell of the wall for connecting withducting therein.

Having described only a typical preferred form and application of myinvention, I do not wish to be limited or restricted to the specificdetails herein set forth, but wish to reserve to myself anymodifications and/or variations that may appear to those skilled in theart and which fall within the scope of the following claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A wall mounted vacuum cleaner unit comprising a substantially squarecase having horizontal top and bottom walls, vertical side walls, avertical rear wall and an open front, an outwardly projecting mountingflange about the perimeter of the case on a vertical plane spacedreanward of the open front, a partition extending between the top andbottom walls and forwardly from the rear wall to the plane of said openfront, said partition defining a vacuum chamber in the left side of thecase and a power chamber in the right side of said case, the forwardedges of the partition and the case about said vacuum chamber defining asealing rim, a cover means releasably mounted on the case to overlie theopen front thereof and including a hinged door normally overlying theopen front of the vacuum chamber and having sealing means comprising abody of resilient sealing material on the door normally establishinguninterrupted pressure sealing engagement with the sealing rim, airinlet and service means extending horizontally and laterally through theupper portion of the power chamber and including a bag mounting tubeprojecting through the partition into the upper portion of the vacuumchamber and a duct connecting part projecting through a port in theright hand side wall to connect with a vacuum service duct, a motorpowered vacuum blower unit with oppositely disposed inlet and outletopenings engaged in the lower portion of the power chamber with saidinlet opening registered with a port in the partition and communicatingwith the lower portion of the vacuum chamber, and with said outletopening registered with an exhaust port in the said right hand sidewall, said vacuum cleaner unit engaged in an opening in a panel of awall structure having front and rear surfaces with said flange engagedwith said front surface and secured thereto by fastener means engagedthrough said flange and into the Wall structure and with said portsspaced rearward of said rear surface, a filter bag arranged in saidvacuum chamber and having Walls occurring in spaced opposingrelationship with the walls of that chamber and having an inlet openingthrough which said bag mounting tube is engaged and a part fixed to theright hand side wall of the case toproject laterally outwardly therefromand defining a forwardly disposed stop shoulder spaced rearward of theflange to cooperate therewith to accommodate an adjacent portion of thepane1, said part having an air conducting screen portion over lying theexhaust port and having laterally outwardly projecting flange means toreleasably engage and hold a coupling flange of a flanged fitting of arelated exhaust duct system.

2. A structure as set forth in claim 1, wherein the ports in the side ofthe case are located to be entirely within a distance not to exceed 4%"from the rear of said flange.

3'. A structure as set forth in claim 1, wherein the ports in the sideof the case are located to be entirely within a distance not to exceed 4/8 from the rear of said flange, and a distance not less than from said4. A structure as set forth in claim 1, wherein said inlet and outletopenings of the blower unit are in flat inner and outer ends of saidunit, said unit being slightly less in longitudinal extent than thelateral extent of the power chamber, a resilient annular gasket at oneend of the blower unit about the opening therein and engaged with theadjacent opposing wall of the power chamber to yieldingly hold the powerunit in proper position in the power chamber.

5. A structure as set forth in claim 1, wherein said air inlet andservice means includes a forwardly projecting forwardly opening inletservice tube projecting through an opening in the cover means overlyingthe open front of the case and a manually engageahle clapper valve meanscarried by said cover means and normally engaged with and sealing theopen forward end of said service tube.

6. A structure as set forth in claim 1, including a part fixed to theright hand side wall of the case adjacent one of the ports therein toproject laterally outwardly therefrom and defining a forwardly disposedstop shoulder spaced a predetermined distance not less than rearward ofthe flange to cooperate therewith to accommodate an edge portion of thepanel about the opening therein.

7. A structure as set forth in claim 6, wherein said part has an airconducting screen portion overlying the exhaust port and laterallyoutwardly projecting portions to releasably engage and hold a part of arelated exhaust duct system communicating with said exhaust port.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,740,494 4/ 1956 Buda --3723,023,447 3/1962 Senne 15-4314 3,076,068 1/ 1963 Racklyefi 15-3143,334,370 8/1967 Boyd 15--327 E 3,422,482 1/ 1969 Hamrick 15-327 R3,568,239 3/1971 Harnrick 15314 3,568,240 3/ 1971 Hamrick '153 143,279,157 10/1966 Andersson-Sason et al 55410 BERNARD NOZICK, PrimaryExaminer US. Cl. X.R.

